Shoe with resilient closure means



Feb. 22, 1949. I CIA. JULIUSON 2,462,3 24

SHOE WITH RESILIENT'CLOSURE MEANS Filed Jan. 29, 1946 INVENTOR.

BY Lp Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFF-l CE SHOE WITHRESILIENT CLOSURE MEANS Charles A. Juliuson, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application January 29, 1946, Serial No. 644,073

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shoe construction and it has particularreference to closure devices therefor, and its principal object residesin the provision of a shoe structure whereby conventional laces, andother types of common retaining mediums, can be eliminated.

An object of the invention is that of providing a shoe constructionwhich embodies a tensioned closing means for the opening or placket inthe upper to facilitate the donning or dofling of the shoes, and avoidthe necessity for lacing or otherwise fasten the same, and afiord anefficient and comfortable means for securing the same upon the wearersfeet.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a fasteningdevice for shoes which affords a practical and desirable means forretaining the shoes while presenting a more attractive foot dress.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection withthe appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the spring element for closingthe shoe and retaining the same.

Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a shoe having its upper formedwith rolled and stitched edges or tunnels along the placket thereof, aportion of one being shown cut away to illustrate the position of thespring element therein.

Figure 3 fragmentarily shows a form of upper in which the rolled edgesare unsecured and showing the spring element thereunder in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view across the instep, taken onlines 4-4 of Figure 3, illustrating the outwardly rolled substantiallytubular tunnels forming pockets removably receiving the parallel prongsof the spring element, and

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-sectional illustration, taken on lines 5-5of Figure 2, showing the rolled edges forming substantially tubulartunnels and stitched to the upper and encasing the spring element.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a spring closing element In whichis preferably of spring steel and thus highly tensile. Its form, as inFigure 1, defines a substantial ring I l at its lower end from whichextends a pair of spaced parallel prongs l2 which turn outwardly andupwardly and are slightly curved at their unner ends 13.

The upper M of the shoe I5. along the edges l6 of the placket I"! in thefront thereof, is formed with outwardly rolled portions 18 which extendupwardly from the toe cap l9 to the top 29 and rearwardly therealongterminating over the instep portion 2!, as in Figure 2. This arrangementdefines substantially tubular tunnels in which the parallel prongs l2 ofthe spring element ID are arranged, as shown in Figure 2, the ringportion l I of the latter being arranged about the lower end of theplacket l1 and encased by a flap 22. The upper ends l'3 of the prongs l2ranging back along the rim of the upper I4 and conforming to the contourof the ankle.

Obviously, the spring element I 0, when properly formed and of suitabletensioned material, will yieldably retain the placket l'l securelyclosed and the shoe l 5 may be removed from the wearers foot by slippingit oif without unfastening the same.

The invention may be constructed to embody a form whereby the springelement In can be made detachable or replaceable, as in Figures 3 and 4,by forming the tunnels in which the spring element I0 is arrangedwithout securing the outer edges a of the rolls [8 thus providing openchannels 23 through which the parallel prongs l2 of the spring elementIt can be inserted. The rolls is are preferably hardened, as in theconventional manner of constructing counters or toe caps, to providesuitable containers for the spring [0.

If desirable a small coil spring, or other type of tensioned device, maybe connected across the prongs l2 near the ring portion II to increasethe tension of the spring It! or strengthen the same. such a devicewould be arranged across the lower end of the placket l7.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable ofconsiderable changes and modifications by persons skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoe construction having an upper with an opening formed in itsfront instep portion, in combination, opposing channels formed along theedges of said instep portion on each side of said opening and extendingrearwardly from the top of said opening along portions of the top ofsaid upper. a substantially U-shaped tensioned member arranged in saidchannels and having the upper extended ends of the spaced parallel legsof said member oppositely extended along the portions of said channelsformed in the top of said upper.

2. In a shoe construction having an upper and an opening in the instepportion thereof, in com- REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 904,254 Fox Nov. 17, 19081,704,299 Marth Mar. 5, 1929 ,762,615 Diether June 10, 1930 1,798,271Perugia Mar. 31, 1931 1,908,293 Holmes May 9, 1933

